Chapter Text
It’s happening.
Sasuke stared at his phone unblinking for what felt like a whole of five minutes until the words finally registered. ‘Shit!’ he shouted, to no one in particular, before leaping out of his chair and grabbing his coat. He bolted from the room, curtly instructing the programme secretary that he was taking an emergency leave of absence and rushed down to the parking lot.
Jumping into his car, he zoomed onto the main road, pushing as fast as he legally could without breaking any speed limits.
The hospital was at the other end of the city from the university where he worked, but luckily for him it was well past the after-lunch rush hour that there was little to no traffic on the road.
It took him a little over thirty minutes to arrive at his destination. Quickly pulling into the visitor’s parking lot, he made his way into the building, following the signs to where he was to go.
Spotting Naruto was easy; he would recognise that distinct shade of blond anywhere.
He was seated in the waiting area, twisting something that looked like a piece of paper between his fingers. It was a nervous tick the man had had since he was very young. From shredding bits of paper to picking away at labels—nothing was safe from Naruto’s hands when he was nervous. It reminded Sasuke of the time Naruto first told him about the baby.
≈
‘So, um…’ Naruto mumbled, mangling the paper serviette in his hands before ripping it to shreds. ‘T—There’s something I need to tell you.’
Sasuke sat across the booth from him, wondering what was so urgent that he had to call Sasuke out from work. He watched the man carefully. His brow was furrowed and the usual glimmer in his blue eyes was absent. His lips looked chapped, like he had been biting at them through his agitation. Whatever was bothering Naruto was serious.
Forcing his expression to remain neutral, Sasuke reached out and gently plucked the pieces of paper from Naruto’s hands. He replaced it with his own hand. Curling his fingers around Naruto’s clammy ones—his way of telling him that he was there, he was listening.
Naruto took a deep breath. ‘Mei-chan, called earlier today,’ he began slowly. ‘Asked me to meet her here.’
Sasuke’s brow furrowed.
What could she possibly want from Naruto? Certainly not to get back with him...They had been horrible together. Constantly fighting and breaking up, only to get back together a week later and for the whole thing to repeat itself. This had lasted for nearly two years. Sasuke had hated it.
It was hard enough having to watch his best friend—the man he was hopelessly in love with—date other people...It was completely crushing to have to pick him back up each time he got his heartbroken when the relationships didn’t work out. After the most recent split with Mei, it had taken over three months, but Naruto seemed to have finally gotten over her.
‘What did she want?’ Sasuke asked. He tried his best to keep the acid from his tone. It did not feel like he was very successful. ‘You’re not…?’ He gave Naruto a pointed look.
His friend quickly shook his head. ‘No, no, of course not. That ship’s sailed…’ He took a breath. ‘She—’ Naruto bit his lip, staring down at their entwined fingers. He gripped Sasuke’s hand tighter as if drawing strength from them. ‘...She’s...pregnant.’
Cold shards of ice pierced his chest; he struggled to breathe.
What?
‘What?’ Sasuke croaked, throat gone dry.
Naruto gave him a wry smile. ‘Yeah…’
‘That’s—’ Sasuke was at a loss for how to respond. ‘Are you...sure it’s yours?’
Naruto nodded. ‘She hasn’t been with anyone else since we split...so...yeah. It’s mine.’
After a moment, ‘Is she looking for child support?’ A thought occurred to him and the anger threatened to build. His eyes narrowed. ‘She’s not demanding you marry her, is she?’
‘No...It’s none of that…even though I offered to—’
‘You did what!’
‘It’s the right thing to do,’ Naruto tried to explain.
Glaring at the table, Sasuke muttered under his breath, ‘Right thing for whom…’
‘Anyway, she—she doesn’t want to keep the baby.’ Naruto paused, looking lost. Sasuke met his eyes once again. ‘She wanted my...input on what we should do.’
‘We?’
‘Yeah. She asked if I wanted to give the baby up for adoption.’
Oh.
‘...What did you say?’
Naruto’s eyes were trained on their hands, but Sasuke knew it was not what he was looking at . ‘Nothing yet. I need time to think...I don’t exactly think I’m ready for a child...But Sasuke…’ He looked up, pleading. ‘…I never knew my parents…’
Sasuke’s heart ached. ‘Naruto…’
‘Just…’ He pulled one hand away to rub at his eye. ‘...The idea of a complete stranger raising my kid...I don’t—I never want them to grow up feeling like their parents didn’t want them...you know?’
Meeting those gorgeous blue eyes Sasuke so loved, he tried to convey his words. He needed him to understand. ‘Your parents wanted you, Naruto. It was an unfortunate accid—’
‘No. I know that!’ Naruto interrupted before he could finish. He gave Sasuke a small smile before his expression turned sombre once more. ‘But this case...if we give this baby up for adoption, it’ll be like neither of us wanted—’ Naruto chewed his lip, unable to finish the sentence.
Tightening his hold on Naruto’s hands, Sasuke said with a smile, ‘It sounds like you already know what you want to do.’ Naruto stared at him with wide eyes. He still looked unsure.
‘But—what if I’m not what the baby needs...What if I can’t be the father they need me to be?’
‘Usuratonkachi,’ Sasuke began; the words he spoke next are what he believed with complete staunchness. ‘You are the kindest, most loving person I know. If anyone has the qualifications to be a good father, it’s you.’
≈
Naruto looked up as Sasuke reached him. He stood immediately, dropping the paper in his hands in favour of gripping Sasuke’s shoulders and shaking him.
‘Sasukeeee…’ Naruto gurgled, teary-eyed and runny-nosed. ‘She’s—She’s—It’s been forty-five minutes already! Why is it taking so long? What if something’s wrong? What should I do?’
‘Tch. Idiot,’ Sasuke muttered with a soft smile. He pulled out his handkerchief from his trouser pocket and dabbed at the messy tears gathered on his friend’s cheeks. ‘Wipe your face first.’ Then held it over Naruto’s nose. ‘Blow,’ he instructed, chuckling when Naruto did so, loudly. Thankfully, they were the only two in the waiting room.
‘Thanks,’ Naruto mumbled, a little bit subdued.
‘Want to sit?’ Sasuke asked but instead of waiting for an answer, guided his friend back into his chair. He put the handkerchief away. ‘You need to breathe, Naruto...everything will be fine.’
Naruto stared at him, looking so hopeful. ‘How do you know?’
‘I don’t,’ said Sasuke. He gives him a pat on the shoulder. ‘But aren’t you the one always telling me to have faith?’
At that, a laugh sputtered out of Naruto. ‘...Yeah...heh…you’re right.’
‘As I always am.’
Naruto laughed outright then. ‘Shut up, bastard.’ He shoved Sasuke’s shoulder.
‘Have you eaten anything since breakfast?’ Sasuke inquired. Knowing Naruto, he probably hadn’t because he was preoccupied with one thing or another and then forgotten in his panic to get to the hospital.
As if on cue, a deep rumbly noise erupted from the depths of the man’s stomach. Naruto blushed.
‘I’ll go get you something from the cafeteria,’ Sasuke offered, trying not to laugh.
Naruto looked momentarily panicked. ‘You’re gonna leave me here?’
‘Relax, Usuratonkachi.’ Sasuke told him as he got to his feet. ‘I won’t be long.’ Digging through his pockets, he retrieved his pair of Bluetooth earphones—a gift from Naruto himself—and held them out for his friend. ‘Listen to some music until I get back.’ Naruto took them with a beholden smile.
On his way down to the cafeteria, Sasuke sent a quick text to Sakura and Gaara, letting them know where they were. He knew Naruto would not have remembered to let his other friends know in his panic. Sasuke was quite surprised he received that extremely vague message in text at all.
He didn’t waste time looking through the items available. Naruto needed something that was quick and easy to eat; he picked out a ham and cheese bagel and a fruit salad for him, grabbing two bottles of water as well, before paying and heading back upstairs.
Naruto had the earbuds in his ears, but his face morphed into one of relief when he saw Sasuke return. ‘Hi.’ He smiled when Sasuke sat down beside him. Taking one of the earbuds, he pressed it into Sasuke’s right ear. The song playing was “Somebody to Love” by Queen—one of Naruto’s favourites.
‘Eat,’ Sasuke said, partly peeling back the saran wrap from the bagel and holding it out for Naruto.
He didn’t take it right away. But instead, eyed the fruit cup. Typical. Sasuke smirked. ‘You can have that after you’ve eaten.’
Naruto pouted, but knew better than to make a fuss with Sasuke.
He accepted the offered food and took a bite. Small at first, before he realised how hungry he actually was and dug in. It was consumed in four bites. Before he even finished swallowing, he stuck his hand out asking for the fruit cup. Sasuke relinquished it with a smirk and a roll of his eyes.
Once all the food was eaten, the wrappers tossed out and each of them had drunk at least half of the water from their bottles, Naruto turned to face Sasuke. His nails picked at the label on his bottle.
‘Sasuke?’
‘Yeah?’
‘I’m really nervous.’
Reaching a hand out, Sasuke wrapped it around Naruto’s wrist. Naruto manoeuvred their hands so he could grip Sasuke’s in both of his. ‘I know…’
‘...Sasuke?’
‘Hm?’
‘Can I...hug you for a bit?’
‘Sur—’ Before the words were even out of his mouth, Naruto had turned and folded himself into Sasuke, burying his face into the crook of his neck. Sasuke tucked his arms around his best friend, hoping to put every ounce of comfort into it that he could give.
‘You free on Saturday?’ Naruto asked, sticking his head into Sasuke’s room. The man was seated on the bed with a book in hand and his reading glasses on. The rest of the room was dark, the only light-sources were the wall sconce above the nightstand and the moonlight dappling in through the window that took up the entire wall to the left of the bed. It caused half of Sasuke to be bathed in the moon's silvery light and the other half of him awash in the warm yellow of the lamplight. Not that Sasuke needed any external help to be impossibly and utterly beautiful...it stunned Naruto, nonetheless.
Black eyes regarded Naruto from behind the white frames. ‘If you’re asking me to go bar hopping with you and Kiba again, I’m going to say no. I had enough of that the last time.’
‘Ah, no. It’s nothing like that.’ Naruto laughed, inwardly cringing when it came out a little strained. He had something important he needed to discuss with Sasuke...something that he was admittedly nervous about. But there was no sense in putting it off.
As if sensing Naruto’s anxiety, Sasuke’s entire demeanour shifted. He was like a cat; his spine straightened, eyes becoming more alert. Naruto could just picture the cat ears on top of Sasuke's head — as soft as his hair — twitching forward with interest. The mental image made him smile.
‘What is it?’ Sasuke beckoned him forward to sit on the bed.
Crossing his legs on top of the comforter, Naruto thought about how to begin. Book discarded on the nightstand, Sasuke patiently waited for him to speak. ‘I — I think it’s time I moved out. Will you go check out a few apartments with me?’
‘...’ Sasuke blinked. ‘...Come again?’
‘...Will you go with me t — ’
Dark, slender brows knit together. ‘Why?’
‘Well, becau — ’
‘What’s wrong with this apartment?’
‘Nothing!’
‘You have a problem living with me?’
‘Of course not!’
‘Then, why — ’
Naruto slapped a hand over the man’s mouth. ‘If you shut up for a second, I’ll explain why.’
‘Tch,’ Sasuke grunted but gestured for Naruto to continue.
Inhaling deeply, Naruto took his hand back before speaking. ‘In two months, I’m gonna have a kid...and well, they’re gonna need their own room.’
‘So?’ Sasuke asked, his eyebrow arched for emphasis.
‘There isn’t another room here that can be turned into the baby’s room,’ Naruto elaborated. Sasuke was the smartest guy he knew, so it was confusing why he didn't seem to get it.
‘Turn your room into the baby’s room.’ He worded it like it was the most obvious solution.
Naruto frowned. ‘Um...then where will I sleep?’
Not missing a beat, ‘In here.’
He could not help but get more and more confused. What the hell was Sasuke even saying? ‘And where will you sleep?’
‘In here.’
Huh?
Exhaling softly, Sasuke explained, ‘This room is big enough for the both of us, this is a king-sized bed, and you spend a lot of nights in here anyway. It’s not going to make a big difference.’ He shrugged. ‘Plus, you’ll have plenty of help with the baby.’
‘Do you — ’ Naruto pulled his bottom lip between his teeth. ‘Do you have any idea what you’re suggesting...I — brought this on myself. There’s no need for you to get tangled up in my mess…’
Sasuke gave him a small smile. ‘You’re an idiot, Naruto,’ he told him, and Naruto thought he should feel insulted. ‘Back in high school, when I was going through my own self-inflicted shit after my father died, you punched me and yelled about bonds and how my messes were yours, too.’ He reached out and rapped his knuckles into Naruto’s forehead. ‘You’re still my closest friend, Usuratonkachi...I’m in this with you.’
Naruto touched the tips of his fingers to his forehead. Sasuke’s words had moved him; he was reminded again for quite possibly the millionth time how impossibly kind his best friend was.
...That was why...the idea of putting him through this didn’t sit right with Naruto, in spite of Sasuke’s words.
‘What if,’ it hurt him to say, ‘you start — dating someone?’
‘I’m not.’
‘Yeah...but what if you do?’
‘Let’s worry about that if it happens,’ Sasuke said.
≈
Hugging Sasuke was always like recharging to Naruto. He couldn’t explain why. It just was.
Perhaps it was because they were never freely given. Sasuke had always been particular about the people who were allowed to touch him. Ever since he was a boy.
It had only gotten worse after the passing of his father. For most of his youth, Sasuke had worked endlessly to earn his father’s affections—which he never believed he had due to the amount of focus Fugaku had bestowed upon his eldest son.
Then came the accident on that wintery morning, when Fugaku, Mikoto, and thirteen-year-old Sasuke had been driving back from the main Uchiha house. The car skid on the sleet covered road, swerved into the bank, and crashed into a thicket of trees. His parents sustained most of the injuries. It put Mikoto into a year-long coma, but Fugaku hadn’t even lasted the week.
Before he passed, Naruto knew he’d spoken to Sasuke. But to this day, Sasuke had never divulged what his father’s last words to him were.
For years Sasuke blamed himself. ‘If it wasn’t for me, he would still be here,’ he had told Naruto on the day of his father’s funeral. ‘If I hadn’t insisted we return home that day…’
Sasuke changed that day. His insurmountable grief caused him to pull away from his friends, from his brother, from Naruto. He was quick to lose his temper. Even after his mother recovered a year after the crash, he continued on his destructive path, making some terrible life decisions. Decisions that would have cost him everything if Naruto hadn’t broken through his walls and punched sense into him.
Following that, he became a little more amicable—as much as Sasuke could possibly be. Slowly, but steadily working his way to get better. He learned to ask for help, from those he considered closest to him, and to accept it when it was offered.
Naruto was proud and happy to see how far he’d come.
It was definitely a bonus that he was one of the two people—his mother being the other—whom Sasuke gave hugs to with little to no resistance. It still might not be as frequent as he preferred, but Naruto would take what he got.
With that thought in mind, Naruto snuggled further into Sasuke’s shoulder. Feeling some of the tension ebb away.
‘Uzumaki-san?’
He jerked slightly in surprise and pulled away to face the owner of the voice; a nurse dressed in pink scrubs with her mocha hair pulled back into a bun.
Naruto shot to his feet. ‘Th—That’s me.’ Beside him, Sasuke stood as well. He remained close; a warm and solid source of comfort.
She gave him a warm smile. ‘Would you like to see your daughter?’
‘It’s—It’s a girl?’ His voice quivered and he unconsciously grabbed hold of his friend’s wrist. Turning to him, he said again, ‘It’s a girl, Sasuke.’
‘Yeah,’ Sasuke replied. ‘Now, go. You don’t want to keep her waiting.’
‘Right,’ Naruto nodded. He felt frantic and found himself unable to let go of Sasuke’s hand. ‘Come with me?’ he asked.
Sasuke’s brows dipped. ‘I don’t think—’
‘Can he?’ Naruto directed his question to the nurse.
‘Well, of course, your partner can come.’
... Partner ...Sasuke wasn’t...not in that sense, but Naruto didn’t want to deny it for fear of having to leave Sasuke behind. So, he simply gave her a grateful smile and ignored the questioning look in his friend’s eyes as he dragged him along.
They were led past a pair of double doors to a separate room, where they were first provided with sanitary hospital robes to wear over their clothes. After which, they were taken into Mei’s private ward to see both the mother and the baby.
Mei’s mother had been with her during the birth and was still in the room with them. Naruto greeted her quickly before he checked up on Mei.
‘Mei-chan, how are you doing?’ Naruto asked her. She looked exhausted, as expected, but lacked the glow of a new mother.
She nodded and smiled, assuring him that she was fine. ‘Your daughter is here,’ she said, guiding his attention to the clear hospital cot at her bedside.
His stomach fluttered as he took tentative steps and carefully peered into the cot. There, swaddled in soft cream blankets, Naruto saw his daughter for the very first time.
‘Would you like to hold her?’ asked the nurse, startling him a little.
‘C—Can I? Really?’ The anxiety that had been crushing him all day, which had lessened considerably since Sasuke’s arrival, only returned tenfold when he witnessed the nurse gather the baby into her arms and hold her out to Naruto. He began to shake.
What if he dropped her?
What if he wasn’t cut out to be a father?
What if he couldn’t protect her?
What if—
A hand on the small of his back brought his attention to his friend standing beside him. Still there. As he always had been. As he always will be...It relaxed him.
Naruto accepted his daughter into his arms for the first time. Carefully he cradled her, with one hand under her small body while securing her head and neck with the other.
The emotion was instantaneous, flooding his senses as everyone else faded into the background.
She was...the most beautiful creature he ever beheld.
Her skin was soft and rosy with a thick tuft of black hair. Her eyes were open and seemed to watch him with a curious blue gaze.
Eyes like mine. Naruto realised.
He fell in love.
‘She’s beautiful,’ he whispered. ‘Look, Sasuke,’ he turned to show his friend, ‘She’s beautiful.’
Unable to take his eyes off her, he heard the love in Sasuke’s voice when he responded. ‘She really is.’
‘Do you want to hold her?’ At that moment, Naruto would not have bequeathed his most precious possession to anyone. But Sasuke was the sole exception.
∞
She’s so tiny , was all Naruto could think about as he once again cradled his now sleeping newborn daughter in his arms.
The requirement for the baby to remain in the hospital for twenty-four hours had been a little difficult for Naruto; he understood it was for her best interest, but he hadn’t wanted to leave her behind. She had already become so precious to him.
He found it just as difficult the next day because he had to return to work to settle last-minute details before he could take his paternity leave. But as soon as four o’clock came around he rushed out the door and headed straight to pick his daughter up. Not long after he arrived, Sasuke walked in carrying the small bag that contained everything they’d need to bring the little girl home. He had offered to stop by the house to pick it up when Naruto tried to take it to work with him. He had also brought Naruto a new change of clothes so that he wouldn’t have to carry his baby in his work-worn ones. Naruto loved that Sasuke thought of the little things.
He was so happy to see her still there, looking just as beautiful as when he first saw her.
The nurse had helped them change her into the baby clothes they brought for her—which still seemed much too big for her little body—and was now providing them with instructions on how to care for her. He tried to lend half an ear to them, but he found himself too preoccupied to concentrate properly. Luckily, he had Sasuke with him, who somehow knew all the right questions to ask and listened attentively to what she was saying.
‘Do you have a paediatrician in mind already?’
‘We do,’ Sasuke replied with a nod.
‘Alright then. Make sure to book her a check-up with them within three to five days,’ she advised, handing him a booklet. ‘This contains all the information about vaccines and other check-up schedules you might need to know. Of course, don’t hesitate to contact your paediatrician if you have further questions.’
‘Thank you.’
Sasuke turned to Naruto once she left them alone. ‘You didn’t get any of that, did you.’ It wasn’t a question and Naruto offered his friend an elvish grin.
‘It’s why I keep you around?’
Sasuke rolled his eyes. ‘Usuratonkachi.’ He picked up the baby bag he’d brought with him from the house and gestured to Naruto. ‘Shall we head home?’
‘Yeah,’ Naruto muttered, still unable to take his eyes off the bundle he was carrying. A thought occurred to him and his eyes widened because he only just remembered. ‘Sasuke...what about the car seat? How will we bring her home?’
A smirk tilted Sasuke’s mouth. ‘It’s all been arranged, idiot.’
Naruto gazed at his friend, starry-eyed. ‘Sasuke…’
‘Really, what would you do without me.’
‘Are you sure about this?’
Sasuke resurfaced from the fridge, where he was picking out the vegetables for their dinner. He shot his brother a warning look, but it was too late.
‘What do you mean, Itachi?’ asked their mother. She paused in her task of washing the rice.
‘Nii-san…’
‘Sasuke,’ Itachi said, directing his disapproving expression towards Sasuke before turning his gaze to Mikoto, ‘has decided to raise Naruto’s child with him.’
‘Really?’ Mikoto looked at her youngest in earnest. Excitement glistened in her eyes. ‘You’re having a baby together?’
‘It’s not what you thi—’
‘Not together ,’ Itachi explained, cutting Sasuke off. ‘It’s Naruto’s baby. Sasuke just thinks it’s a good idea to have him move into his room and for them to raise the kid despite being uninvolved.’
‘What do you mean?’ Their mother looked genuinely confused and Sasuke didn’t blame her. It would be terribly perplexing for anyone to grasp. But despite his feelings for Naruto—or maybe because of it—Sasuke would not abandon Naruto to face this on his own. No matter how his brother or mother might feel about it.
This had not been how he planned to break the news to his mother, however. He glared at his meddlesome brother.
Setting the dinner ingredients on the kitchen counter, he took a deep breath. ‘Naruto is having a baby,’ he began, while carefully watching for Mikoto’s reaction. ‘His ex found out she’s pregnant, but she doesn’t want to keep it...so she left the decision to him...Anyway, he planned to move out two weeks ago, to get his own place to raise the kid. But I told him not to.’
‘Why not?’
‘...Because he’s my friend,’ Sasuke said. ‘And I want to give him my support...He’s always given me his when I needed it...especially after Tou-san…’ he paused to take a breath. ‘He deserves this much, at least.’
‘Then, support him in other ways,’ Itachi interjected. ‘You’re offering to raise his child with him...Do you even realise what a responsibility that is?’
‘I don’t need you to tell me that, Nii-san. I know. ’
‘This doesn’t make you a couple—’
Sasuke bristled. ‘When did I—’
‘What if he starts dating again?’
‘That’s —’
‘Itachi,’ their mother’s soft voice cut through their own that was steadily getting louder. Both men turned to look at her. ‘We’re out of eggs. Would you run out to the store and bring some?’
‘Please,’ she added when Itachi looked about to protest.
With a sigh, he relented. He moved out of the kitchen quietly and Mikoto waited until they heard the definitive click of the front door closing before speaking.
‘Are you sure this is what you want, Sasuke?’
Sasuke, who had been scowling at his feet, looked up in surprise. That was not what he expected his mother to say. ‘I am,’ he replies with certainty.
She nodded. ‘It’s quite an honourable thing you’re doing.’
‘It’s got nothing to do with honour, Kaa-san.’
‘No...of course it doesn’t.’ She walked forward and took Sasuke’s hand between both of hers. Her grip was warm and sure, and calmed Sasuke’s disquieted thoughts. ‘I don’t think I need to tell you that your involvement will affect the baby just as much as it does Naruto.’
‘I’m aware of that.’
Mikoto nodded. ‘You love him very much…’
Sasuke didn’t know what to say to that, but Mikoto didn’t seem to be expecting an answer. ‘My precious boy,’ she smiled, reaching up to stroke his cheek. ‘You’ve grown so much...I’m so proud of the man you’ve become.’
‘Kaa-san—’ Sasuke was stunned by his mother’s acceptance. ‘You’re not going to try and talk me out of it?’
‘I know you, Sasuke,’ she explained, ‘You wouldn’t do anything if you weren’t certain it was what you wanted.’
‘But Nii-san…’
‘Your brother loves you, Sasuke. He’s only trying to look out for you.’ She squeezed his hand in hers. ‘Don’t be too hard on him.’
‘...I’ll try...’ He gave his mother a side smile.
‘Now,’ she said, patting his hand, ‘shall we finish dinner?’
≈
‘She’s sooo cute!’ Sakura cooed and Sasuke hushed her with a click of his tongue.
‘Not so loud,’ he scolded quietly. ‘Naruto just fed her and put her to bed. We don’t need you waking her up.’ His friend flashed him an apologetic grin.
It’s only been a week since they brought her home and they were still getting used to having a new-born in their lives. Babies required a frightful amount of attention, and while Sasuke had known that, he hadn’t realised the magnitude of what it would be. Hotaru, as Naruto decided to name her, had an impressive set of lungs on her—something she no doubt inherited from her father. Her wails were loud enough to bring down their apartment block; Sasuke wondered how long it would be before they would get complaints from their neighbours.
Naruto’s friends had all been excited to meet her, too. But, in order not to overwhelm Naruto, Sasuke asked them to wait a while before paying their visits. And to come in batches; they had a tendency to get too rowdy when they were all together.
Sakura leaned away from the crib and grinned at Naruto. ‘She looks like you,’
‘Does she really?’ The expectant smile on his face grew wider.
‘She does,’ Gaara agreed, ‘Except for the hair.’
Sasuke collected the empty baby bottles to bring into the kitchen, giving Naruto’s arm a pat as he passed him. ‘We should leave the room before we wake her.’
They shuffled out and Naruto let the door fall closed, baby monitor in hand.
‘How is it so far?’ Sakura asked as they took their seats in the living room.
‘Keeps me busy,’ Naruto laughed, ‘I’m learning to wake up every few hours to make sure she’s fed and changed.’ He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. ‘I knew babies were hard work, but man was that an underestimation.’
Sasuke moved into the kitchen, leaving Naruto to chat with the two, and proceeded to wash the bottles before placing them into the steriliser.
He put on a pot for tea and poured it into cups, along with a plateful of cheese and cream crackers, bringing it with him back to the living room.
‘Aw, I want one of my own, too,’ Sasuke heard Sakura wail as he returned.
‘So, make one,’ Naruto said with a laugh.
‘We’ve been trying,’ she replied, muttering a soft “thanks” when Sasuke offered her a cup.
‘Really? That’s awesome!’ Naruto chirped happily, bouncing in his seat.
‘How long?’ questioned Sasuke, settling next to Naruto once everyone had a cup of tea in their hands.
She smiled shyly, scratching her cheek. ‘We’ve talked about it for a while now, but only been actively trying for a month.’
‘That’s not long. You’re a doctor, Sakura. You should know that.’
Sakura clicked her tongue, looking a little irate. ‘I do know.’
Gaara sipped his tea, silently watching their exchange. Naruto nibbled on a cracker.
‘Or, you know,’ Sasuke smirked, ‘perhaps the problem is Kakashi. He is getting on in age.’
Naruto let out a barking laugh before stifling it as Sakura glared and aimed a kick at Sasuke’s shin.
‘Oh, shut up.’
Managing to dodge the attack, Sasuke chuckled and reached over to ruffle her hair. ‘Relax, Sakura. Your moment will come,’ he reassured her.
The next of Sakura’s questions were almost all medical-related, to confirm they had everything in order. She liked to be informed of all things and it was a trait Sasuke both admired and disliked in her. It was a positive, in this case since Naruto could look to her for advice on Hotaru’s wellbeing.
‘Really though, Sakura-chan,’ sighed Naruto leaning back into his chair after she finished answering some of his concerns. His bare toes wiggled under Sasuke’s foot. ‘I’m so glad to have you as a friend.’ Sakura beamed and Naruto pat Gaara’s arm. ‘You too, buddy.’
‘I don’t think I’m going to be nearly as helpful as Sakura but thank you.’
Naruto laughed. ‘Aw, you can totally help me out with babysitting and stuff.’
‘Of course, Naruto,’ Gaara agreed with a smile. With a glance at the closed door of the baby’s room, he continued, ‘You’re going to be a great dad.’
After his paternity leave ended, Naruto reluctantly returned to work. He was apprehensive about leaving his daughter behind; Hotaru was still very little, just two months old. But it was something he had to learn to live with. When he brought up the topic with his friend and roommate, about deciding whether he should be hiring a babysitter or switching the responsibility of watching over her between their friends, Sasuke offered to take up his annual leave to look after her.
‘You don’t have to do that,’ Naruto said to him, cradling his daughter in his arms as he rocked her to sleep with the help of the rocking chair Sasuke had bought him. It was made from dark lacquered wood and had soft tufted cushions for the seating. It was easily Naruto’s favourite of all the baby shower gifts he’d received before Hotaru’s birth.
‘Of course, I do,’ Sasuke replied, kneeling beside them. He gently smoothed his thumb over Hotaru’s cheek, watching as her eyes slowly drooped closed. ‘I promised to support you with this, and I intend to keep that promise.’ Sasuke’s dark eyes met Naruto’s. From this distance, Naruto could make out the grey flecks in his irises and admire the length of his ink-black lashes. His bow-shaped lips were quirked up at the corners in a smile that Naruto knew Sasuke only reserved for him. He was the most beautiful man Naruto had ever known and he was supposed to be Naruto’s friend...so these urges he got of wanting to kiss him were things he needed to get under control...
‘Yes, but Sasuke,’ he cleared his throat self-consciously and tried again, ‘You should save your annual leave for something like a vacation.’
Sasuke scoffed. ‘When have you ever seen me take a vacation?’
‘When I force you to?’
‘Yeah, only then.’ Sasuke smirked. ‘Hotaru’s still too young to be left with anyone else,’ he explained quietly. ‘I have enough leave days saved up, and after that, I can work from home until she’s at least five months old.’
Naruto paused, watching his friend carefully. ‘Are you sure this is what you want to do?’
Sasuke made a show of rolling his eyes, but his reply was no less earnest, ‘Without a doubt.’
And that was that.
Balancing the shopping in one hand, Naruto managed to unlock the door to the apartment. Shuffling into the flat, he toed off his shoes and carried the bags into the kitchen to deposit them onto the counter. Kurama immediately hopped up onto the counter to investigate the suspicious items brought into his house. Naruto chuckled, giving his orange ball of fluff a quick scratch on the head before going in search of Sasuke and Hotaru.
The faint sound of humming reached his ears as he turned into the hallway, which caused him to pause momentarily before he continued on tiptoe. The door to Hotaru’s room was ajar and Naruto peeked in. What he saw, caused his chest to swell with emotion.
Sasuke was standing by the crib with Hotaru in his arms, swaying gently from side to side. Rocking her to sleep, Naruto assumed…
...And he was singing.
It was soft, but Sasuke seldom sang and Naruto found himself caught off guard—rooted to where he stood because he didn’t want Sasuke to notice him and stop. As rare as it was, Naruto cherished the few times he had heard him. Sasuke had such a beautiful voice. Naruto was so entranced he didn’t notice Sasuke place Hotaru in her crib and turn to look at him, looking mildly miffed.
He clicked his tongue causing Naruto to start, eyes refocusing.
‘How long have you been standing there?’ he muttered, grabbing Naruto’s wrist and dragging him out of the room. He pulled the door halfway closed behind them.
‘O—Oh, I just got here,’ Naruto tried, sheepishly.
‘Right,’ Sasuke scoffed, ‘Idiot.’
They stared at each other for a minute before Naruto broke the silence. ‘You’re getting her used to lullabies,’ he grinned, ‘Soon I won’t be able to rock her to sleep. I can’t hold a tune to save my life.’
‘Hn. That’s true.’ Sasuke smirked.
Naruto shoved at his shoulder. ‘Don’t stop, though,’ he continued, ‘I think she likes it when you sing to her.’
Sasuke took a step closer to him and Naruto got a whiff of his cologne; something airy and clean and fresh. His skin tingled and his fingers twitched like they wanted to reach out and touch. ‘ She likes it...or you do?’
Never one to back down from any of their exchanges, Naruto stood his ground and replied with similar inflection, ‘You know I do.’
∞
Sasuke was already asleep when Naruto emerged from the shower later that night. With Hotaru right beside him. He must have brought her to the bedroom when she’d woken up crying.
They painted quite the picture. Her tiny hand was curled around Sasuke’s index finger with Sasuke’s other hand gently tucked under his own cheek as he slumbered on his side, facing the little girl.
Naruto’s heart fluttered at the sight.
He never imagined this would be how it turned out when he first told Sasuke about the baby.
Tiptoeing as quietly as he possibly could, he reached for his phone on the dresser to click a photo of the two of them. With her dark hair and soft, pale skin, she looked more like Sasuke’s daughter than Naruto’s. He chuckled to himself. Well...she was in a way, he supposed.
Not wanting to accidentally wake either of them, he decided to leave Hotaru where she was and climbed onto his side of the bed, carefully sliding under the covers. Scooting as close as he could, he dropped a feather-light kiss to his baby’s hair before settling into his spot.
He wondered if he should give one to Sasuke, too—as he gazed at his best friend’s relaxed face. From his closed eyes lined with long, dark lashes and the straight slope of his nose to his slightly parted lips. He looked years younger as he rested. Unable to resist the urge, Naruto reached out and tucked back a lone lock of hair fallen across Sasuke’s forehead.
The door creaked and with a gruff meow, Kurama announced himself. He hopped onto the foot of the bed to peer at the three of them with curious, amber eyes.
‘Shh,’ Naruto chastised the feline when he let out another meow while stretching. Paying no mind to Naruto, Kurama made himself comfortable atop the duvet, curling into a croissant next to Sasuke’s foot. Naruto chuckled quietly to himself.
‘Naruto?’ Sasuke’s groggy voice startled him and he immediately turned his attention to his friend.
‘It’s just Kurama,’ he quickly whispered, ‘Go back to sleep.’
‘Hn…’ Sasuke blinked at the baby, still thankfully asleep between them. ‘Should put Hotaru back,’ he mumbled, making to get up but Naruto pressed a hand to his shoulder before he could.
‘No, it’s alright,’ Naruto murmured with a smile. ‘Let her sleep here.’
‘But—’
‘It’s fine, Sasuke.’ Naruto dismissed with a wave of his hand. ’It’s just one night.’
...But of course, it never was.
It was remarkable to see just how much Sasuke and Hotaru had bonded. Naruto suspected that his daughter might be a tad more attached to Sasuke than she was to him and he would be completely jealous if he wasn’t already utterly smitten by watching the way they interacted with one another.
Like right at that moment; Hotaru and Sasuke were seated together on the floor in the middle of their living room, while Sasuke lightly strummed on his guitar, singing to her in a range of dynamic voices and grinning as she squealed in happiness.
Naruto stood in the kitchen doorway and watched in awe as his six-month-old daughter grabbed onto the neck of the guitar and pulled herself to standing. She did it so effortlessly now; having been only five months old when she first stood up in her crib. He remembered when Sasuke first told him about it.
≈
‘I’m home,’ Naruto announced to the house as he shut the door behind him. He had only just locked the door when Sasuke appeared from the depths of their apartment with the most peculiar expression on his face.
‘Hey.’
Naruto grinned and began to talk as he hung up his jacket and pulled off his shoes. ‘You won’t believe the day I had. Jam-packed, I tell you! I don’t think I had enough time to properly eat, too,’ he chuckled, ‘Today’s Mother’s Day. Did you remember? Not to worry, I had roses and orchids delivered to Okaa-san on your be—’
‘Hotaru,’ Sasuke said suddenly, his brows furrowed.
‘Huh?’ Naruto blinked, taking in Sasuke’s posture and the expression on his face. ‘What happened?’
Dark eyes met his blue. ‘Hotaru...she stood up for the first time today.’
‘...What?’ Naruto took one faltering step forward. He couldn’t have heard that right.
‘Hotaru stood up,’ Sasuke repeated.
‘B—But—how?’ Naruto stuttered, ‘She’s still—She’s only five months old…’
‘...Yeah, but she did.’
A thought struck Naruto. ‘I missed it?’ Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his friend shift closer towards him. He ran a hand through his hair. ‘Did you,’ Naruto asked, ‘catch it on video?’
Sasuke shook his head. ‘It happened too fast. I’d finished giving her her bottle and turned around to put it on the table...When I turned back, I saw her grab the railing of her crib and stand up,’ he explained, looking dejected, ‘I tried to encourage her to do it again, but she didn’t. I’m sorry.’
Reaching out, he let his hands fall onto Sasuke’s shoulders in a comforting grip. ‘Hey, no, it’s okay…’ Naruto smiled.
‘It’s not,’ Sasuke countered.
‘Okay, it’s not,’ he chuckled. ‘But these things happen. I’ll see it next time.’
‘Hm.’
‘Come on,’ Naruto urged, taking Sasuke’s hand and leading the way to the baby’s room. Peeking in to make sure she wasn’t asleep first, he strode in. She gurgled happily when she saw him. ‘Hello, my darling,’ he cooed, ‘I heard you did something amazing today.’ He didn’t pick her up though, wanting to wash off all the day’s grime before cuddling with her. So Sasuke lifted her into his arms for him.
Naruto immediately bent to kiss her silky soft feet, enjoying the way she laughed in response.
‘What did it look like?’ he asked Sasuke, wanting to know.
‘It was…’ Sasuke bit his lip, trying to find the words. ‘I don’t think her legs were ready to hold her body up. She went down almost as quickly as she stood.’ He shook his head. ‘I was so scared that she hurt herself. But all she did was laugh after it had happened.’
‘Did you play a prank on Sasuke?’ Naruto cooed to his daughter while tickling the bottoms of her feet. ‘You’re taking after me, after all.’ He turned his attention back to Sasuke. ‘But that was such an overachiever thing—standing at five months,’ he grinned, ‘Maybe hanging out with you is rubbing off on her.’
‘Hn.’
Something scratched at his hip and when Naruto looked down, he saw Kurama stretching up along the length of his leg, asking for attention. ‘Of course, I haven’t forgotten you, my giant baby,’ Naruto laughed, pulling his cat into his arms. ‘You’re still my number one.’ Kurama immediately began to purr.
Later, when they had told Mikoto about Hotaru’s early achievement, she explained how Sasuke had done the same at six months old; that he’d never had a crawling phase and went straight to running at ten months. Which Naruto had taken the pleasure in teasing Sasuke about over and over that day, only to burst into tears when he witnessed, for his first time, Hotaru standing.
≈
Naruto shook the memory away and watched as Sasuke immediately stopped playing to lightly keep an arm around her in case she lost her balance. Hotaru curiously plucked at the strings with her chubby fingers, giggling when they produced soft sounds.
Pulling his phone from his pocket, he snapped a photo.
That caught Sasuke’s attention and his black eyes turned to Naruto. ‘Why are you lurking, Usuratonkachi?’
‘Hey!’ Naruto retorted on auto-pilot, ‘Stop calling me that in front of her. What if it sticks!’
Smirking, Sasuke turned to Hotaru, ‘I think it’s stuck already. What do you think, sweet pea?’ Her response was to giggle. ‘I think she agrees.’
Naruto rolled his eyes and laughed.
∞
On most nights, Sasuke was the one who ended up putting Hotaru to bed. Naruto knew it was because she had gotten used to being sung to sleep and unless she fell asleep on her own due to tiredness, Sasuke’s lullabies were the only thing that worked.
Also, since that night, she wouldn’t sleep in her own crib. So, Sasuke got her to fall asleep in their room, before carefully moving her to her own. Not that it worked all the time. Sometimes, he would take her to her room, only to bring her right back because she had woken again and refused to sleep until she was back in their bed. On those days, Sasuke grumbled about spoiling her, but didn’t decline her “request” either.
Without a doubt, she had both of them completely wrapped around her tiny pinkie.
That night was one of those nights again and Naruto found himself watching the two of them. Entranced.
Sasuke lay beside her, singing softly and rubbing her back to coax her back to sleep. Naruto couldn’t see her face from his position on the bed, but he could imagine her eyes slowly drooping to the soothing sound of Sasuke’s voice.
The expression on Sasuke’s face, on the other hand, was completely in Naruto’s view…
...So full of love and tenderness...
...And try as he might, he couldn’t take his eyes off him.
Unable to stop himself, he thought, I love you.
The singing stopped.
‘W—What?’
‘Huh?’
‘What did you just say?’ Sasuke watched him, wide-eyed, and sat up slowly. A quick glance at Hotaru to make sure she wasn’t going to wake up again and those eyes were back on him.
‘Uhh…’ Naruto blinked three times, then almost smacked himself on the forehead when he realised he had said the words out loud.
Gingerly climbing off the bed, Sasuke arranged their pillows around the slumbering baby to keep her from rolling and walked towards the door, motioning for Naruto to follow.
Once the door was shut as quickly and quietly as they could, Sasuke grabbed Naruto by the front of his hoodie and dragged him into their living room. From his place on the couch, Kurama looked up, ears perked, and relaxed once again when he realised it was only them.
Letting go of Naruto, he ran a hand through his hair before turning to face him. ‘Did you mean it?’
‘W—What?’ It was Naruto’s turn to stutter.
‘Did—what you said—did you mean it?’ Sasuke’s hands twitched at his sides, like he wasn’t sure what he should be doing with them.
Naruto bit his lip, staring at his feet. Unconsciously he began to pick at the skin around his thumbnail.
What could he say?
Yes! Hell yes, he meant it! Hell yes , he loved Sasuke!
He wanted to say it all...been wanting to say it for years...But Sasuke...What if it changed everything between them? What if it didn’t work out? Sasuke was such a huge part of his life, of Hotaru’s life...Naruto didn’t know if he could have the heart to—
‘Naruto.’
He met the eyes of his lifelong friend and was floored by the emotion he saw swirling in their depths. There was fear, but at the same time, there was understanding and affection, and...dare he say it, love.
Sasuke smirked and took a step forward. ‘You always have the need to pick at something when you’re nervous,’ he said, taking Naruto’s hand into his and effectively halting him from picking at his thumb.
‘Ah, right,’ Naruto muttered, not surprised that Sasuke would recognise this tick of his. Sasuke was probably the only person who knew everything there was to know about him. And more.
But somehow, he didn’t know this …It was almost funny...And at the same time, really sad.
‘Come on,’ Sasuke said after a minute, ‘We should get to sleep.’ Because as stubborn as he was, he wasn’t the kind to push Naruto into admitting something he wasn’t ready to reveal. Well, not always. And right then, Naruto wished he did.
‘Idiot,’ he muttered—to whom he referred, he couldn’t be sure—and yanked Sasuke back, just as he was about to walk away. Into him. And cupping the other man’s face, Naruto kissed him.
It was brief, but it was tender; Naruto poured all his words and feelings into it because he wasn’t sure if he could get his brain to form the words.
When he pulled back, he blurted, ‘I do.’
Sasuke chuckled. ‘You do?’
Blushing, Naruto tried to elaborate, ‘...I do mean it...I do. But Sasuke, I’m... so fucking terrified. What if this doesn’t work out? What if—I don’t want to lose you!’
Sasuke just looked at him...like he was the most perfect thing in the whole world.
He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to Naruto’s for a short moment. ‘You absolute moron !’
‘Hey—’
‘Where the hell did you get the idea that you could ever lose me?’
‘Well, becau—’
‘You were the one person who never gave up on me,’ Sasuke told him, stunning Naruto into silence. ‘Even when I did everything I could to push you away, you stayed.’ He gave Naruto one of his rare, soft smiles. ‘You are the most stubborn idiot I’ve ever come across.’
‘Shut up. You’re worse than me—’
‘Exactly.’
‘Huh?’
‘Between the two of us, don’t you believe we’ll make it?’ He smirked.
‘Sasuke…’ Naruto raised his hands back to cup Sasuke’s face. He was still looking at Naruto like he was the most brilliant, beautiful thing in the world. ‘If you keep looking at me like that, I won’t be held responsible for my actions.’
‘Hn. Idiot,’ Sasuke murmured against Naruto’s lips before kissing him fully.